Two second-half goals proved enough to see the Bees into the Middlesex FA Senior Challenge Cup final – winning 2-0 against Northwood at The Fenton Civil Engineering Stadium.
After an even start to the match, it was the Bees who had the first real effort at goal when Ryan De Havilland’s looping header found Reece Grego-Cox who took it under control and lashed it narrowly wide of the far post.
Sydney Ibie looked to trouble the Bees’ backline throughout the first-half and went close in the 33rd minute as his low drive from 20-yards out took a deflection and bounced wide of the target.
The Bees came out firing at the start of the second-half and took the lead in the 54th minute when Grego-Cox’s shot was deflected into the path of Adam Marriott who hammered the ball home from close-range.
Dean Brennan’s side almost doubled the lead soon after as Rob Hall took aim towards the bottom corner.
Ephron Mason-Clark raced onto the shot but couldn’t get the finishing touch as the ball rolled out for a goal kick.
Marriott scored his and the Bees’ second of the night in the 59th minute after Hall’s free-kick slammed against the crossbar and off the goalie’s back, to leave the striker to tap in from a yard out.
Marriott caused havoc for the Northwood defence again four minutes later when Mason-Clark darted down the wing and cut the ball back to the 30-year-old who had his low shot scooped off the line and over the bar.
Two more chances soon followed the visitors as Louis Walsh was played through on goal and was denied by a strong save shortly before he fizzed a shot just past the upright following the resulting corner.
Serhat Tasdemir and Ephron Mason-Clark both made Hosier work in the closing stages through two firm strikes, but Marriott’s goals were enough to see the Bees progress into the final.
Northwood: Dan Hosier, Ryan Young (Matt Surmon 76’), Andy Lomas, Keagan Cole ©, Luke Tingey, James Gurteen, Kyal Williams (Alex More 76’), Teddy Stacey, Josh Helmore (Kristian Belousas 76’), Sydney Ibie, Carl Stewart. Subs (not used): Tommy Boxer, Lewis Batten.
Bees: Aymen Azaze, Ben Richards-Everton, Rob Hall, Ross Marshall, Ephron Mason-Clark, Adam Marriott (Serhat Tasdemir 76’), Harry Taylor © (Jamie Turley 39’), Sam Beard, Sam Woods, Ryan De Havilland, Reece Grego-Cox (Louis Walsh 71’). Subs (not used): Aston Oxborough, Wes Fonguck.
Goals: Marriott (54’, 59’).
Referee: Steven Rea.
Attendance: 249.
